The 1995 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the junk wax era of the late 80s and 90s. While sets from this time period are generally not very valuable compared to older vintage sets, there are still a handful of cards that regularly sell for thousands of dollars in high grades. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable rookie and star player cards found in the 1995 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice set.
The undisputed king of the 1995 Collector’s Choice set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best player designs ever created by Upper Deck, Griffey’s RC is the crown jewel for collectors from this era. In pristine mint condition, Griffey rookie PSA 10 gems have sold at auction for over $20,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can bring $5,000-$10,000. What makes the Griffey so desirable is the perfect storm of it being one of the best player photos ever used, coupled with Griffey entering his prime as one of baseball’s biggest stars at the time the set was released. Condition is critical, as even slightly off-center or corner dinged PSA 8’s will sell for $1,000-$2,000.
Another extremely valuable rookie from the 1995 Collector’s Choice set is the Derek Jeter card. Like Griffey, Jeter would go on to have a hall of fame career and become a true icon of the sport. Pristine PSA 10 Jeter rookies have cracked $10,000 at auction on several occasions. PSA 9 copies typically sell in the $3,000-$5,000 range. While not quite as coveted as the Griffey RC, the Jeter is still highly sought after by collectors today given his popularity and success both on and off the field. The Jeter photo is not quite as iconic as Griffey swinging, but it remains a classic image from one of the most collectible player debut cards ever produced.
Rounding out the top three most valuable cards from 1995 Collector’s Choice is the Ivan Rodriguez rookie. Pudge Rodriguez went on to have a hall of fame career primarily with the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. His solid defensive abilities behind the plate made him a fan favorite for many seasons. In a PSA 10 gem state, Pudge rookies have sold for around $5,000, with PSA 9’s bringing approximately $2,000-$3,000. While not in Griffey or Jeter territory, the Rodriguez rookie maintains strong collector demand due to his excellence as a catcher at the highest level for nearly two decades. Condition is just as critical for the Pudge card achieving peak values.
Next up are the star veteran cards, headlined by the Ken Griffey Jr. base issue. Considered the second most valuable card in the set after Ken’s rookie, a PSA 10 Griffey base card in 1995 Collector’s Choice can reach $2,000 at auction. This makes it one of the pricier common veteran parallels from the era in top grade. PSA 9’s sell closer to $500-800 range. This is a testament to just how beloved Griffey was as a player and how his cards from this time period remain some of the most collectible in the hobby.
Right behind Griffey is the 1995 Collector’s Choice Barry Bonds base card. As one of the game’s most prolific sluggers throughout the 90s, Bonds’ star power makes his issue a valued commodity as well. An untouched PSA 10 can sell for around $1,500, with solid PSA 9 copies trading hands between $300-500. While Bonds developed a controversial reputation later in his career, collectors still appreciate his prodigious talents that made him a home run hitting machine for nearly two decades. His card remains a prized vintage foil for 90s baseball enthusiasts.
Rounding out the top veteran parallels are two other stars that had huge careers – Mike Piazza and Ken Caminiti. Piazza was one of the game’s top slugging catchers through the late 90s. A PSA 10 1995 Collector’s Choice Piazza sells in the $1,000 range, while a 9 fetches $300-500. Caminiti became the first third baseman since George Brett to win an MVP award in 1996 with the San Diego Padres. His PSA 10 sells for around $800-1,000, with PSA 9’s priced $200-300. While not newbie rookies, these two superstar veterans remain hot commodities from the illustrious 1995 issue.
Of course, there are other lesser valuable but still key cards that round out the true high-end offerings of 1995 Collector’s Choice. Nomar Garciaparra and Robb Nen rookies can reach $300-500 in PSA 10. Brad Ausmus, Trevor Hoffman, and Michael Tucker rookie gems are $200-400 PSA 10. Star veterans like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Randy Johnson PSA 10’s trade for $400-800. And for error card collectors, the ultra-rare Albert Belle without a team name variation has sold as high as $4,000 PSA 9. While condition is still important, these secondary hits demonstrate the true depth of the 1995 Upper Deck set.
The 1995 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice baseball card set endures as one of the most recognizable issues from the “junk wax” era. Anchored by the ultra-valuable Ken Griffey Jr. and Derek Jeter rookie cards, the premier Griffey Jr. veteran base card, and the star power of Bonds, Piazza, Caminiti and others – this issue has numerous blue chip cards that maintain strong premiums to this day. Even 26 years after its original printing, the 1995 Collector’s Choice set shows no signs of slowing down for committed collectors of vintage 90s cardboard. Its perfect mix of future hall of famers, unknown prospects, and iconic photography ensure this product’s continued relevance for decades of collectors to come.
